Florida’s Democratic lawmakers issued a statement Tuesday saying they will seek a legal remedy to prevent the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from stripping the state of its nominating delegates after the state’s Jan. 29 primary.
That statement, and one that followed from the DNC, make clear that neither side is backing down in what has become the watershed fight over the race to the front of the primary season.
{mosads}The DNC’s rules and bylaws committee voted Saturday to strip the state of all of its delegates if it proceeds with the planned Jan. 29 primary without seeking an alternative, like a caucus to be held on or after the approved Feb. 5 date. The state was given 30 days to propose such an alternative.
The DNC said again Tuesday that the rules are to be followed, and despite threats of legal action, a 1981 Supreme Court ruling made clear it is the parties, not the states, that have the power here.
“We continue to hope that Florida will do the right thing and come up with a plan that’s in compliance with the rules the DNC and its members from Florida voted for,” DNC spokeswoman Stacie Paxton said in an e-mail. “Florida has the right to determine its primary date. However, the Supreme Court determined more than 25 years ago that the Democratic Party has the legal right to establish the rules by which they select and seat delegates to the National Convention.”
The statement from the 10 Florida members and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) also encourages voters to participate in the primary regardless of sanctions imposed by the DNC.
“We cannot go along with anything but the state-run primary set for next January,” the statement reads. “We strongly encourage all Democrats to vote for their preferred nominee in that primary, regardless of whatever penalties the DNC might enact.”
The statement adds: “The vote is going to matter — period.”
DNC rules committee Chairwoman Alexis Herman said after Saturday’s vote that if the state party does not offer an acceptable resolution before the deadline, the primary would amount to a straw poll or a “beauty contest.”
State Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman told reporters Saturday she would deliver the news to the state executive and central committees.
The penalties imposed by the DNC are being read by many as an attempt to impose some sort of order to a process that has fallen into chaos. With states like Michigan making moves to position their primaries on Jan. 15, the DNC appears to be sending a message that such moves will come with stiff penalties.
The Florida lawmakers’ statement makes clear they are putting the onus on the DNC to find a solution. They also suggest that other states exempt from the Feb. 5 dam — Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina — move up their primaries and caucuses to accommodate the Sunshine State.
Joining Nelson in signing the statement were Democratic Reps. Allen Boyd, Corrine Brown, Kathy Castor, Alcee Hastings, Ron Klein, Tim Mahoney, Kendrick Meek, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Robert Wexler.
“We hope that over the next few weeks, the DNC and its chairman will show a willingness to work with us to find an equitable solution that is acceptable to all,” the statement reads.